Method of and means for treating air



E. R. CASE.

METHOD AND MEANS Foa TREATING AIR.

Patented May 17, 1921.

2 SHEETSSHEET l.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 22| 1920.

E. R. CASEi METHOD AND MEANS Eon- TREATING Am.

APPLICATION FILED MAR 22. 1920.

Patented May 17, 1921.

' y 2 SHEET 2 rig. 7. Fi

PATENT orFlcE.

neuron :wensen lcAslz, or ronou'ro, oNrAnIo, CANADA.

IETHOD OF AND MEA S FOB TBEATIN'G AIB.

Specication of Letters Patent.` Patented Maly `17, 1921.

- Application iled Iarch 22,1990. 4Serial No. 367,905.

`ject of the invention Yis to treat air into which is passed heat waves or rays of electrical origin reflected from a reflector of a convenient form, with a suitable liquid or non-liquid treating agent, so as to humidify the air in a room, or for'the purpose of treating those su'ering from whooping cough, or bronchitis, or other bronchial affactions, as well as those suffering from throat and lung affections that can be treatled in this manner; to supply an insecticide to air in a conservatory containing plants, and to supply a fumigating or deodorizing agent to the air in ga room to purifythe same. Another 'object of the invention is to expedite the dissemination of the treating agent throughout the room. l

Several forms of apparatus within myv invention will be hereinafter particularly describedvas exemplary means whereby the objects thereof may be. readily and economically carried out, and what I claim as new will be set forth in the claims forming part of. this specification.

, Figures 1, 2, 8, and 7 are vertical central longitudinal sections throughV apparatus within my invention showing different embodiments thereof, as well as different formsI of reiiectors, adapted for distributing a liquid treating agent. Fig. 4 is a perspective view, in fragmentary form, of another form of apparatus within my invention. Fig. 5 is a, vertical cross section on the line 5 5, Fig. 1. Fig-6 isa vertical cross section on the line 6--6, Fig. 2. Fig.v 8 is afront elevation of portion Vof thel apparatus illustrated in 9 and 14 are vertical central longitudina sections through forms of apparatus Within my invention, showing the reflectors apertured to permit the flow of currents of air therethrough, the form in Fig. 9 being adapted to supply a non-liquid treating agent to the air. ig. 10 is a vertical cross section on the line 10-10, Fig. 9. Fig. 11 is a vertical central lon itudinal section through a modified form o 4holder for a treating agent. Fig. 12 is a vertical cross section on thel line 1-2-1'2, Fig. 11, and Fig. 13 is a vertical cross section on the line iai- 13, Fig. 9.

In the drawings, like characters of referencerefer to the same parts.

The reected heat `'waves or`rays used hin putting my method into practice,- are of electrical origin because heat generated thereby can be readily controlled by opening and. closing the circuit, thus obviously produclng economy in operation in many cases. It is well-known to heating and ventilating engineers that air in a room possessing the proper percentage of humidity does not require to be kept at lso high a temperature as when it is lacking in humidity. Therefore, for a given period, an apparatus with- 1n my invention can be used to heat a room at the minimum of expense.

Several forms of electric heaters are in common use whereby heat waves or rays are projected into a room in a column or shaft by means of a more `or less highly polished suitable reflecting surface, but none of these heaters possess means for supplying water vapor or other treating agent to the air;

In the forms of my invention Illustrated in Figs. 1 to 8, inclusive, the reflected heat waves or rays largely control'the currents of air circulating in a room,and it is by means of such air currents that the treating agent is distributed.

Since the quantity of treating agent .designed to be held by my contrivance at any one moment isl relatively quite small, and is preferably located in'intimate proximity to the source of heat, it naturally follows that very little time elapses before the treating agent is transformed into the desired state. It will, of course be understood that any suitable form of reiiecto'r'-may be used. The particular form of treating-agent holdingmeans, and the constructions and designs whereby suitable electric connections are had, and the particular construction illustrated for controlling or obtaining a supintroduced .into the current 9i reflected heat waves or rays at any convenient place or point and in any convenient form. For exknown in the art, such as porcelain, or fused silica.

In Fig. 1, the reflector A is in the form cfa cone with the apex removed, leavin an opening B through which extends the base C. A suitable construction for holding the said base in the said refiector may be conveniently in the form of a split iiauge D, which is embraced by a divided ring E,

lWhose ends are drawn together by means of a nut and bolt designated by the common numeral of reference F. The said base preferably projects beyond the said iang'e D and supports any suitable electric terminals such as the binding posts G to which are connected tlie ends i of the resistor H mounted in any suitable manner on the said base. A cap l incloses the open end of the said base, and is held in place by any suitable means such as the binding posts Gr. A tube J extends through the cap l and also through the base C and projects through an aperture 2 formed in said base. The said tube is preferably surrounded by a sleeve 3 of suitable insulating material so as to prevent any possibility of the ends 4 oi the resistor H coming in Contact with said tube in case .it be made of current-conducting-material, as is the case in the illustration. The said sleeve insulates the said tube from the cap i. A valve-casing 5 is provided with a branch 6, whereby the uid is conducted by any suitable means (not shown) from a suitable source of supply (not shown). The end 2' of the tube el' may conveniently support the valve-casing 5, as

shown, and through the duct 8 in said valvecasing, fluid is conducted to said tube. A well-known form of valve 9 is mounted in the said valve-casing' to control the supply of Huid. .l

As is well-known by one swrled in the art, the supporting parts for the resistor H become rapidly heated, and in fact the base C becomes practically incandescent. The result will be that the fluid Within the tube d will very shortly be brought to a very high temperature, so that the steam or vapor generated will escape from the said tube through the duct 10, and into the current ofi heat-rays emitted by the resistor H, and these rays will be reflected and thrown out- .ward linto the room by the reiector If desired, the reflecaor A may be ear,

the reflector A.

The duct 10 is preferably positioned above the center of the tube J so that this tube` will contain quite a supply of fluid in the. f

initial stage, Without the fluid passing through the duct. The duct will preferably be so small in fact as to practically prevent the passage or escape of iiuid therefrom. So soon as the various parts described be- 'come thoroughly heated, the fluid escaping from the valve-casing 5 into the tube J willy begin to be vaporized, and except when the radiator is first started, there will be ractically very little, if any, fluid in the tube.

En certain of the described forms'of my invention, there will not be sufficient Huid within the apparatus to generate sufiicient steam or vapor to be dangerous.

In the form of my invention illustrated iu Fig. 2, the reector is concaved or diskshaped, or paraboiic, and iscomposed of a front member A', and a rear member A.

|The outer edges of these reiiectors are suitably coupled together as shown at i3, and Where the base C passes through these members, are formed openings le and l5. The upper side of the ,base C is slotted as shown at 16, and one {poi-tion of this slot opens into the chamber? 22, between the tivo members A and A. The tube J is mounted' within the base C', and one end thereof projects through a hole 2 formed in the closed end of the said base. Carried by said tube and opening' thereiuto is a duct i7 which is iu communication/with the chamber 22. As the said tube J is passed into the base C', the duct i? passes into the siot 16, and coming?` in contact with the end 18 of the said slot, is positioned as shown. A lug i9, secured to, or formed a part of, the said tube J', supports one end of this tube and maintains tbe duet 17 in proper osition. ne segment of the split ring is slightly sprung as the duct l'Z' passes thereunder, so as to hold the said tube and duct against longitudinal displacement. Carried hy the reflector is a iling means 20 of welllmown construction, and through this means the fluid is passed into the chamber 22, and saturates the ller 2i, made of any suitable incombustible material such as asbestos or mineral wooh As the current heats the resister H', in a short while the heat will geuerate vapor. iu the chamber 2%, and rthus vapor will pass through the duct l? into the tube J and escape thereoutof through @hetV duct 1G'. Any suitable cap closes the housed end of the said tube d" ico il@ v In this form of the iuveuiioii, the tube if tube. In the embodiment disclosed in Fig.

3, the base C is supported in the reflector 'A in any convenient manner; ifdesired,

as before described in connection with they' other forms of my invention, and the same carries the resistor H. The inner vends i of the said resistor are coupled to any suitable binding posts G. The base in this caseis bi-functional in that it not only carries the resistor, but it also' receives iluidinthe chamber 24,- from which opens the duct 10 in the closed end of said base. Mounted in one portion of said chamber is a wick 254 made of any suitable material either naturall or artificially incombustible, which pre erably extends into the valve-casing 5 and is held therein to prevent the .wick from traveling toward .the opposite end of the base C and closing the duct l0. This wick .will prevent any possibility of the flooding of the chamber 24 through carelessness on the part of the user. As only a lsmall flow of fluid is designed to be passed through the valve-,casing 5, the'use of the said wick is not absolutely essential. In

.duce vapor within `the base C one wall of the base C" is a assage-way 26 through whichthe return en of the resistor H is passed. The slot 16v in this form of invention is extended as to permit the housing of the portion 27 of the resistor H".

After the ends 4 of the resistor H have been coupled to the binding-posts G, ,the chambers a and b, formed in the walls .of said base C", are plugged by any suitable paste or cement c.

The' chamber 24;' will be also preferably lined lwith any suitable ireproof cement or paintto prevent the iiuid passing throu h the pores of the base C" in case the same ie suciently porous. g

' In the form of my invention illustrated in Fig. 4, the base C occupiesa position at I holder.

right angles to the other bases, and is vsupv ported in the reflector. A'by a sleeve; 28 which opens into the interior of said base. A conduit or tube 29 passes through the reflector, and into the sleeve 28 so as to introlll In the form of my invention illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, the resistor 30 is mounted within a' suitable casing 31, which casing is suitably supported in the ends 32 of the reector 33. behind the casing 31, is a chamber 34, which is 'coupled by thec onduit `35, to the valvecasing 5. The chamber'BB is provided with a duct d, and may have a suitable filling c. The said chamber is curved, as shown, so as to conform vn1ore`or less to the shape of the casing 31, so as to .permit the Huid within the chamber to be readily vprzd,

ounted inl this reflector, and

`As before set forth, I can use a certain form of my invention as a'fumigator or de'- odorizer, and in Fig. 9 I have disclosed one form of apparatus to be usedl as a fumigator whereby 4afn'on-liquid fumigatn agent is su plied to the air. A*s is the-re ector rovii`a ed with an opening B through w 'chg extends the base or holder C". This base or holderis provided with a lange C5 around which is clampedthe' split flange D, which is embraced by a divided ring E', Whose ends are drawn together by means of a nut and'bolt commonly designated F. Surrounding the rear portion C ofthe base or holder C* is a metal plate J" which is separated from the dan Cl5 by any suitable insulating material .in the design" illustrated so as to insulate the" plate J from the flange D- and ring-E.

Suitably mounted in the plate J. are any suitable -electric terminals such as the binding posts G' to which I connect the ends 4" ofthe -resistor H associated in any suitable manner with thesaid base or .suitable means may be use to couple the plate J to the flange C*i such as nuts and bolts commonly designated G.

Closing thel rear portionV C6 ofthe base or support C?, is a cap I', preferably of the same material asfthat composingthe said base or holder, and interposed between this cap and the rear ortion C is a vsuitable bushing I to permit of the ready -removal and placing of said cap for the purpose of placingr the non-liquid treating agent Within the base or holder C'4 which is cham' bered for that purpose.

Opening into the chamber 2" 'of the -said base or holder is a vent 3 through which fumes, gasyor smoke escapes. If desired, a lip 5 may be located above the vent 3 to assist in directing outwardly the flow of the said gas, fumes, or smoke.

The ends of the resistor H are passed through the holes 6 and 7 formed 1n the. iange "CJ and through holes a" and b formed respectively in the insulating material K and the plate J" andthe portion of the resistor connectedt0 the end passing through the holev is preferably buried in the longitudinal groove 8 formed in one side of thebase or holder C, and which grooveis afterward closed. '9' represents the treating agent mounted within the chamber 2" of the base or holder C, and this treating agent may be of any desired substance, in non-liquid-orm, such as sulfur, formaldehyde, or spent oxid of iron.

Formed in the reflector A5 are one'or more openings M suitably `locatedso that airl ,currents may pass through said openings rinto the reflector a'ndjexpeditiously-convey in theca I -ture of the air at the front side of the reector be much higher than that at the rear side thereof, it is'reasonable to assume that currents of Vair will flow through the openings/1Min the direction indicated by arrowsnf f,

In thelform'of base or holder C" illustrated in Figs. 11 and 12, an open trough 10",is vprovided to receive the treating agent. -i Y.

If necessary,

` in the reflector.

vto air heated b WhileI have described what I consider to be the best embodiments of my invention, I desire it to be understood that the principle can be embodied in many different forms and I desire not to be limited beyond the requirements of the prior art and the terms of my claims. I

What I claim is:

1. The method of treating air for various purposes, which consists 1n supplying a treating agent to air into which is passed reflected heat waves or rays, generated by elecf tric current.

2. lThe method of treating air for various purposes, which consists in supplying a vaporized treating agent to air into which is passed reflected heat waves or rays generated b electric current.

3. -rlphe method of treating air for various purposes which consists in transforming the treating agent by heat electrically generated .into a suitable state, and then supplying said transformed treating agent to air into which is passed reflected heat waves or rays generated by electric current.

4. The method of treating air for various purposes, which consists in transforming a treating agent by heat electrically generated into a vapor, and then supplying said vapor to air into which is passed reiiected heat waves or rays generated by electriccurrent.

5. '.Ihe methodl of treating air which consistsl in supplying a treating agent to air heated by reflected heat -waves or rays generated by electric current.

' 6. The method of treatingair which con!Y sists in supplying a vaporized treating agent reflected heat waves or rays generated by e ectric current.

7 The method of treating air for various purposes which consists in transforming a treating agent by heat electrically generated the opening 40 may into a suitable state, and then supplying the said transformed treating agent to air heated by reflected heat waves or rays generated by electric current. f

8. The method of treating air which consists in transforming a treating agent by heat electrically generated into vapor, and then supplyingsaid transformed treatingagent .to air heated by reflected heat waves or ra s generated by electric current.

9. lhe method of treating air which consists in producing reflected heat waves or rays of electrical origin in the air, and supplying a treating agent to the air, the tem- Eerature of which is raisedby said reflected eat waves or ra s.

10. The metho of treating air which consists in producing reflected heat waves or rays of electrical origin in the air, and supplying a vaporized treating agent to the air, the temperature of which is raised by-said reflected `heat waves or rays.

1l. The method of treating air which consists in producing reflected heat waves or rays of electrical origin in the air; transforming a treating agent by heat electrically generated into a suitable state, and then supplying said treating agent to the a1r.

12. The method of treating air which consists in setting up currents of air by producing reiiected heat waves 'or'rays of electrical origin in the air, and supplying a treating agent to the air currents.

13. The l.method of treating air which consists in setting up currents of air by producing reflected heat waves or rays of electrical origin in the air; producing auxiliary air currents, and supplying'l a treating agent t o the air in a room by means of said auxiliary air currents.

14. The method of treating air which consists in supplying a treating 'agent to air into which lis passed reected heat waves or rays of electrical origin, and eXpediting the dissemination of the treating agent by auxiliary air currents. 1

1'5. The method of treating air which consists in supplying a treating agent to air currents induced by difference in temperature between two separated portions of a body of air caused by reflected heat waves or rays generated by electric current.

16. The method of treating air which con'- sists in transforminga treating agent by heat electrically generated into a suitable state, and then supplying -said treating agent to air currents induced by -diiferen'ce 1n temperature between two separated Yportions of a body of air caused by ,reflected heat waves or rays generated by electric current.

17. The method of treating airwhich con.- sists in passm'ga treating agent into an indll d @errent 0i nir iowlngin substantially 1,378,094 j g a the same direction as reflected heat waves or r 'ng a treating a ent, and means controlrays generated by electric current. 1mg `the supply :o treating agent to said 18. An apparatus for treating air, includtreatin -agent carrying-means. ing electric heat-Wave-producing means; A20. ,n apparatus for treating air, includ- 5 means to reflect said heat waves, and means, ing electric means for producing heat 115 to supply a vapor generated Ifrom fluid to Waves; means to reflect said heat waves, and air heated 'by said reflected heat Waves. 'means to supply a treating agent to air 19.- An apparatus for treating air includheated by said reflected heat waves.

ing electric heat-wave-producmg means; Y l 10 means to reflect said heatwaves; means car- EGERTON RYERSON CASE. 

